Events

Music
Generation at West Wicklow Youthreach Blessington

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4-6th June, West Wicklow Youthreach Students worked with Producer Gavin Ralston, and singer Luan Parle . They came to the centre as part of
the Music Generation programme, a first for Youthreach in Wicklow. The Music Generation programme is about making a song about any topic we want.

Gavin and Luan helped us
with that. Music Generation is
Ireland’s new National Music Education Programme. Initiated by Music Network
and funded by U2 and The Ireland Funds, Music Generation aims to help children
and young people to access music education in their own locality. It is a
five-year programme (2010 – 2015), which is
locally provided within a national framework.

We were split into two
groups. Dylan, Jamie, Denis, Adam, Aaron were making a rap. Amy, April, Katie,
Barbara, Charlie, Daniel G and I produced a pop song that was about summer. Writing our own lyrics was
difficult, but Gavin and Luan made it fun, exciting and easy for us. We also
made a video for each song which was really fun. Check us out on YouTube. Type in West Wicklow Youthreach Blessington and you should find us.

Daniel Janiga

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European Week Against Cancer

Art competition

Recently, I took part in the European Week Against Cancer poster competition. This
competition was made to raise awareness about different ways cancer is caused,
and how it can be prevented. We were given a brief, and a sheet with the categories that
could be done. I decided to pick Limiting Alcohol intake. I came up with three
ideas, and asked my friend’s which one they liked best. I chose the design and
got to work. After about a week, I did not have a lot done so I quickly threw a poster together. I liked the design of the poster, and thought if it
was done neater, then maybe it might have a chance of reaching the finals.

About two weeks later, the design was coming together, but I then decided to add
something, as I thought it looked to plain. I added a cancer ribbon in the top
corner because I noticed very few of the other posters had them, but then decided to
bring the beams of light from the cancer sign through the design. I think
adding the coloured lights helped get the pictures to the finals.

A couple of
days before the posters had to be sent in, I added a boarder and cleaned it
up. On Wednesday 29th May, I got a call from Adam Roden, my friend
from Youth Reach. He told me it had been announced that I had won the
competition. I checked the Facebook page, and my poster was up in the winner’s
album. I was delighted that I had won an IPAD mini, and i am proud of my work. I
thank my art teacher Jane Meriman for helping me to start, and finish my
poster.

Dillan
Coomber

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Blessington Youthreach Walk for Charity

On a hot summers day
on the 3rd June 2013 in Dublin City, a marathon with a difference
was about to take place at 2pm. With 10,000 women and some men dressed up, the congregation began at the Luas lines at
the red cow, and in Dundrum in the late morning.

Hopping off the Luas
and arriving at Stephens Green, the sea of different coloured t-shirts was
magical; with each of us trying to figure out who was running for which charity.The atmosphere was electric, and
intense at the same time.Denise, the
Coordinator went off to the running section with her Irish Kidney Association
t-shirt, and after walking for about 20 minutes, she eventually reached the start –
well close enough.The rest of us didn’t
have that far to walk to the walking section, with us proudly wearing our CF
t-shirts.

A first, most of
us (except Denise, being her 4th time) sweltered in the heat, waiting to
start. 2FM kept us entertained, and
Elvery Sports did our warm ups.
Eventually, 2pm came and the race had started. By the time we reached the starting line, the
winner was finished and on her way home.
We all chatted as we walked, and people who came out to support us were
very encouraging.

Dublin Fire Brigade, and even some shops hosed us down with nice cool water. People grabbed for the water to ensure that no
one got dehydrated. As one walked and
talked, the time flew by, and before we knew it; we were rounding the corner to the
finish line, proud that we had completed the course, and that we were still
standing and smiling. So well done to
Caroline Mc Cabe (Tutor), Katie Guing, Emma Regan, April Roden and Denise Walsh
(YR Coordinator).

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Blessington Youthreach meet the stars of TV3

On December 17th
2012, Blessington Youthreach learners went on a company visit to TV3, in
association with FIT. After a short
drive to the Ballymount Studios we were going to see how a television station really
works. Whilst waiting in the reception area the Youthreach learners were
buzzing with excitement, in the hope that we would meet some of the stars of
TV3 like, Martin King, the lovely ladies of XPOSE, the crew of Ireland AM and
the one and only Vincent Browne,

Our Guide
producer Niall Judge, met us and brought us into one of the board rooms. On the way we passed Hair and Makeup, sadly
no stars being done up much to our dissatisfaction. The land of TV3 was a very busy and bustling
place - People coming and going doing what they do best.

Niall explained
to us all about TV3, when and how it started, how programmes were sourced and
shown on TV, how the advertisement section work hard to get people to advertise
their products, as that is how TV3 make up the majority of their income and how
TV3 use viewer ratings to help them make informed decisions about what shows to
air. Interesting stuff and running a TV
station is not as easy as we thought.

We were then
split into 2 groups and went our different ways to view the studios of Ireland
AM, Vincent Browne, the news desk and yes they are all the same studio with
different backgrounds. We spoke to a producer who explained his job and what is
needed to work inTV3. Then we went to
the control room to see how it all works, very complicated stuff to be honest,
but interesting.

At the end of
the tour, we visited their new studio that is not quite finished. Naill gave an interesting perspective on Life
in TV3 where hard grafting, use of common sense, ability to work with a team
and use of initiative are very important traits to have. Sadly no stars to be seen much to our
disappointment! Maybe next time!

West Wicklow Footballers off to a good start

The students of the West Wicklow Youthreach Blessington football team managed to bag six points out of a possible nine in their first foray into the Wicklow Youthreach League. The Wicklow Sports Promotion Unit have organised the event in which each centre will host a day of football. Teams play each other once. All teams will play twelve games in total and the winners will be the team with the most points at the end of it all.

The team were led by their captain, Aaron Nugent. Other members of the team included John Doyle, Martin Byrne, Eugene Keogh, Tom McGuire and James Murray. All of the team played excellently on the day, but just tired towards the end of the day. They started brightly with a 7-4 victory over a tough Bray side. This ensured that confidence levels were high going into the second game against Arklow. After a slow start they managed to win this one comfortably, with the highlights being an outrageously skilful goal by James Murray and a tap in at the end of a wonderful passing move in which every team member had a touch of the ball.

The lads headed into the final game full of confidence against the much fancied Wicklow Town side. The game was a very tetchy, physical and at times bruising affair, with both sides desperate to win. Wicklow just had the physical egde and managed to get into an early lead, which they never surrendered. In the end it was a comfortable 10-1 win for Wicklow. This left the Blessington lads feeling rather disheartened, but the mood lightened on the bus on the way home when the positives of the day were discussed. Captain Aaron Nugent was the top scorer and everyone pitched in. Thecrushing defeat to Wicklow Town has only left the Blessington lads eager to put it right when the two sides meet again. All in all though, the management and players can be satisfied with their day’s work.

All of the females at Blessington Youthreach took part in “The Real Deal Training Programme”.It is a six session training course facilitated by one time teen mums.The main emphasis of the programme is to educate young females about the importance of giving serious consideration and time to the decision to have sex and the consequences of engaging in sex at a young age.

There are 6 areas to be covered during the training:

Self Esteem

Sex Education and Contraception

Drugs and Alcohol

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Life as a Teen Mum

“Not Now- Later” / Goal Setting

This Programme is run in conjunction with the SPHE / RSE programme and the mentoring programme.So what do people say about it:

“The girls were very friendly and honest and they opened my eyes to the dangers of having sex at a young age- both sexually, emotionally and physically.”

“You could be yourself no matter what needed to be said or what kind of situation you have been in the past- no one judged you.”

“We learned that a baby is for life and that your life changes so much when you have to take care of someone else, the sacrifices you have to make.There is not just you anymore, there is another human being that needs to be taken care of.”

Coordinators comments:“This type of programme is a very valuable resource to have.The young females learn a lot from it and its real life that builds up their self-esteem and communication.It is very informative.”